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A distribution center that services value-added operations in addition to its normal operations faces a design problem: How to configure the forward/reserve departments for both of these operations. Analytical models are developed to analyze the tradeoff between floorspace and labor efficiency. Our results indicate that the best distribution center design is dependent on a company's customer demand profile as well as the relative cost of floorspace and labor. / Master of Science

This grounded theory retrospective case study examined whether the development of the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) supported Lasswell's (1951) policy process framework and the ecological adaptation of Marshall, Mitchell and Wirt's policy actors model. The study was a retrospective case study employing semi-structured interviews, analysis of documents, and archival records. The following research questions guided the study: Did the policy process evolve linearly as in Lasswell's theoretical model? If it was different, how? With respect to Marshall, Mitchell, and Wirt's ecological model of policy actor behavior, how was this theory consistent with the evidence from this case study? How did the political culture affect the policy process? How did the selected participants interpret their roles in the different policy stages? What issues developed during the stages of the policy process? How has the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System as a codified policy changed? The study concluded that the policy process evolved linearly, but took multiple cycles. The Small School Lawsuit precipitated events that suggest features of Punctuated Equilibrium and Multiple Streams theories during the agenda setting stage. The Advocacy Coalition Framework theory underscored many of the events that occurred in later stages. Policy actor behavior changed relative to actor proximity to the inner circle. The traditionalistic policy culture of Tennessee influenced the policy process largely through the elite's inclusion of the TVAAS policy in the omnibus Education Improvement Act (EIA) Bill. The interviewee/participant's roles during the policy process varied at the different policy process stages. Several issues (superintendent elections, teacher evaluation) with the omnibus EIA bill emerged during the policy process that threatened its passage; however, the bill passed due to the initial urgency of fiscal litigation concerns. Since its passage, TVAAS as a codified policy has not experienced any significant changes, except No Child Left Behind has necessitated changes to the types of assessments and indicators. This study may be very useful to policy analyses and policy-makers interested in state level policymaking. / Ed. D.

This bachelor thesis was written in cooperation with IAC Group AB in Låssby/Gothenburg. The report explains the background to this project and why it was started. It also describes some theory which is needed to understand the project that has been made and which methodologies that have been used during this study. In this project the current state of the door panel department layout was analyzed and studied. Very early on it became clear that one of the biggest wastes for this department is related to operators walking. To make an improvement the focus was on reducing the unnecessary walking distances that the operators have to make and also not exceed the given budget. Six different layout alternatives were analyzed in regards to these factors and compared with each other as well as with the current state. The comparisons resulted in an own layout suggestion which is a combination of some of the six layouts analyzed but also own inputs. This layout is recommended for the company to implement since it reduces the unnecessary walking distances the most of all alternatives and the investment for it is within the given budget.

Förädlingsvärdemodellen har enligt tidigare forskning möjlighet att redovisa företags hållbara ansvarstagande på ett systematiskt och reglerat sätt vilket gör arbetet med hållbarhet möjligt att revidera och jämföra. Studiens syfte är att empiriskt testa en modifierad förädlingsvärdemodell och analysera svenska börsföretags förädlingsvärde fördelat mellan fyra hållbarhetsdimensioner. Vidare är syftet att se om skillnader i fördelningen av förädlingsvärdet finns mellan företag i olika storlekar och branscher.   Studien har gjorts genom kvantitativ metod och deduktiv ansats. Som tillvägagångssätt har innehållsanalys av företagens årsredovisningar valts. För att bearbeta och presentera datan har genomsnittsvärden och tabeller tagits fram.   Studiens empiriska resultat visar att svenska börsföretags hållbara ansvarstagande skiljer sig åt beroende på företagsstorlek och bransch. Slutsatser som dras är bland annat att stora företag tar ett större hållbarhetsansvar än små och medelstora företag samt att branscherna teknologi, hälsovård och industri är de branscher som tar det största hållbara ansvarstagandet.   Studiens praktiska resultat är att förädlingsvärdemodellen empiriskt testats och visat sig kunna användas för att analysera företags hållbara ansvarstagande. Det teoretiska resultatet är att skillnader i hur svenska börsföretag fördelar sina förädlingsvärden kan förklaras genom intressentteorin, legitimitetsteorin och enterpriseteorin. Förslag till fortsatt forskning är att testa modellen på fler företag i Sverige och i andra länder samt att testa beroendet mellan fördelningen, storlek och bransch. / The value added statement is a model that makes the sustainable responsibility taken by companies able to audit and compare in a systematic and regulated way. This study aims to empirically test a modified value added statement and analyze the Swedish listed companies value added distributed between the four dimensions of sustainability. Furthermore, the purpose is to see whether there are differences in the distribution of value added between companies of different sizes and industries.   The study is conducted with quantitative method, a deductive approach and content analysis of annual reports. To process and present the data, the average values ​​and tables have been produced.   The results shows that the model can be used to measure the listed Swedish companies' sustainable responsibility. The results also shows differences between small and medium-sized enterprises and large companies, and between companies in different industries. Conclusions that are drawn are that large companies and the industries technology, healthcare and industry are taking the biggest sustainable responsibility.   Suggestions for future research is to test the model on other companies in Sweden and in other countries. Other suggestions is to test the relations between the variables. The study's contribution is that the value added statement is empirically tested and proved to be useful to see the companies’ sustainable responsibility. The study also shows that the model can be used to see differences between companies of different size and industry, which can be explained by the stakeholder, legitimacy and enterprise theory.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Value added is the wealth that a reporting entity has been able to create by its own and its employees' efforts. A Value Added Statement (VAS) reports on how this value added is shared between employees, providers of capital, the state and reinvestment. In order to put wealth created by an organization in proper perspective, the users of VAS should be able to compare the results in a statement of an entity over a given period of time to evaluate trends and should furthermore be able to compare the statements of various companies in order to determine the relative performance of a company in the creation of wealth. Little empirical work has been done on Value Added Statements in South Africa resulting in a lack of standards or benchmarks against which to judge/compare the value-added data and ratios of different entities. The aim of this study was to contribute towards creating a data bank, which ultimately will be used in setting industry standards. This study was limited to 65 companies, which published Value Added Statements for five or more consecutive years and disclosed the number of employees during the period 1977 to 2000. The research is of an exploratory nature and it was decided to focus on the following aspects of a Value Added Statement in order to calculate standards or benchmarks: (a) Common size Value Added Statements. (b) Compound growth rates for the different elements of a Value Added Statement. (c) Annual growth rates of sales/employee, salaries and wages/employee and valueadded/ employee. Certain trends were identified. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toegevoegde waarde is die rykdom wat 'n verslaggewende eenheid skep deur eie en werknemers se pogings. Toegevoegdewaardestate (TWS) doen verslag oor hoe hierdie toegevoegde waarde gedeel word tussen die werknemers, kapitaalvoorsieners, die staat en herinvestering. Ten einde die rykdom wat deur 'n organisasie geskep is in toepaslike perspektief te sien, moet die gebruikers van TWS hierdie resultate, kan vergelyk oor 'n gegewe tydperk ten einde tendensie-ontledings te kan doen. Verder moet die gebruikers van TWS 'n vergelyking kan maak tussen die state van verskillende maatskappye om sodoende die relatiewe prestasie in die skepping van rykdom te evalueer. In Suid-Afrika is min proefondervindelike navorsing gedoen oor TWS, met die gevolg dat daar 'n gebrek aan standaarde of beginpunte is waarteen die toegevoegde waarde data en verhoudings van verskillende maatskappye gemeet kan word. Die doel van hierdie studie is om by te dra tot die databank wat uiteindelik gebruik sal word in die daarstelling van bedryfstandaarde. Die studie is beperk tot 65 maatskappye wat TWS vir 'n tydperk van vyf of meer opeenvolgende jare gepubliseer het asook die hoeveelheid werknemers vir die tydperk 1977 tot 2000 bekend gemaak het. Die navorsing is ondersoekend van aard en daar is gefokus op die volgende aspekte in die daarstelling van standaarde en beginpunte in 'n Toegevoegdewaardestaat: (a) Gemene grootte Toegevoegdewaardestate. (b) Saamgestelde groeikoers vir die verskillende komponente van TWS. (c) Jaarlikse groeikoers in toegevoegde waarde, verkope/werknemers, toegevoegde waarde/werknemers en salarisse en lone/werknemers. Sekere tendensies is geidentifiseer.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: "Value adding process design" entails two underlying concepts, namely "business process" and "value adding": Business process: According to Dr Michael Hammer (Hammer, 1999), the recognised father of process thinking, a business process is an "organised group of related activities that together create customer value". The focus in the process is not on individual units of work, which by themselves accomplish nothing for a customer, but rather on an entire group of activities that, when effectively brought together, create a result that customers value. Value adding: The concept of "value adding" can be defined in different ways depending on the receiver of the value (shareholders, customers or employees). From a shareholder perspective, value adding can be measured by using EVA (Economic Value Added). EVA is a measure of economic profit generally meaning that a positive EVA indicates that value has been created, whereas a negative EVA means value has been destroyed. The perspective from which process improvement is addressed is the value that is added for the customer, but always with the constraint of not negatively impacting the EVA of the organisation. Value adding process design: "Value adding process" design entails the design of a business process or interrelated business processes to ensure that employee and customer needs are satisfied, whilst creating value for shareholders. The objective of this study is to develop a methodology and supporting tools to enable a organisation to make the transition from being task focused to becoming a truly process organisation. The approach that is proposed is the Rynmar VAP Diagnostic Tool. The approach consists of 5 phases, best explained by the metaphor of building a house: • Setting the stage (phase 0) is identifying the need for a house, i.e. being unhappy with the current situation to an extent that one has the burning desire to change surrounding, even if it will cost a lot of time, effort and financial resources. • Visioning (phase 1) is drawing an artist impression of the house. It involves thinking what the new house should look like, for example do I want a Cape-Dutch house with thatched roof and white walls, or an Italian design with tiled roof and off-white walls. Visioning is the magnetic force that one holds on to whenever the question is asked: "Is it worth the effort?" • Design Process (phase 2) entails applying different techniques to draw an architectural design of the firstly the current processes, followed by the future process that will meet the different aspects of the vision. • Prototype & Build (phase 3) involves firstly building a small scale model of the house to test and improve the design made in phase 3, followed by building the actual house. • Train & Implement (phase 4) firstly entails training the different people in the skills required by the new process design and then implementing the process under careful guidance of the project team, i.e. moving into the house. • Continuous Improvement (phase 5) involves continuously improving the process to ensure that incremental performance improvement is achieved, which will lead to a dramatic cumulative improvement over time. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Waarde toegevoeging proses ontwerp" behels twee onderliggende konsepte, naamlik "besigheidsproses" en "waarde toevoeging": Besigheidsproses: Volgens Dr Michael Hammer (Hammer, 1999), die erkende vader van prosesdenke, kan 'n besigheidsproses definieer word as 'n georganiseerde groep van aktiwiteite wat gesamentlik waarde skep vir 'n kliënt. Die fokus in die proses is nie op individuele komponente van werk nie, wat individueel niks vir die gebruiker kan vermag nie, maar eerder op 'n geïntegreerde groep van aktiwiteite wat, indien effektief gegroepeer word, waarde skep vir 'n kliënt. Waarde toevoeging: Die konsep "waarde toevoeging" kan op verskillende maniere gedefinieer word afhangende van die ontvanger van die waarde (aandeelhouers, kliënte of werknemers). Vanuit die perspektief van 'n aandeelhouer word waarde toevoeging gemeet deur gebruik te maak van EVA ("Economic Value Added'). EVA is 'n maatstaf van ekonomiese wins, wat daarop neerkom dat 'n positiewe EVA aandui dat waarde geskep (toegevoeg) is, terwyl 'n negatiewe EVA beteken dat waarde verwoes is (waardevermindering). Prosesverbetering word gevolglik daarop gerig om waarde toe te voeg vir 'n kliënt, maar altyd onderhewig daaraan dat dit 'n positiewe impak op die EVA van die organisasie sal hê. Waarde toegevoegde proses ontwerp: "Waarde toegevoegde proses ontwerp" behels die ontwerp van 'n besigheidsproses of verwante besigheidprosesse wat sal verseker dat daar aan die behoeftes van werknemers en kliënte voldoen word en terselftertyd dat waarde geskep word vir aandeelhouers. Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om 'n metodologie en ondersteunende gereedskap te ontwikkel wat 'n organisasie in staat stel om die transformasie te maak van 'n taak-georiënteerde na 'n ten volle proses-georiënteerde organisasie. Die benadering wat voorgestel word is die Rynmar VAP model. Die benadering bestaan uit vyf fases en kan verduidelik word aan die hand van die metafoor om 'n huis te bou: • Definieer 'n platform vir verandering (fase 0) is om die behoefte te identifiseer om 'n huis te bou, naamlik om ontevrede te wees met die huidige situasie tot so 'n mate dat 'n brandende begeerte bestaan om iets daaraan te doen, selfs al kos dit tyd, moeite en finansies. • Skep van 'n prosesvisie (fase 1) is om 'n kunstenaarsvoorstelling te maak van die huis. Dit sluit in hoe die nuwe huis moet lyk, byvoorbeeld 'n Kaaps-Hollandse huis met 'n grasdak en wit mure. 'n Visie is die magnetiese aantrekkingskrag wat 'n organisasie aan vasklou wanneer die vraag gevra word: "Is dit die moeite werd?" • Proses ontwerp (fase 2) behels die toepassing van verskillende tegnieke om 'n argitekstekening van eerstens die bestaande prosesse te maak, gevolg deur die ontwerp van toekomstige prosesse wat die visie sal verwesenlik. • Prototipering & bou (fase 3) behels die bou van 'n klein skaalmodel van die huis om die ontwerp te toets en verbetering aan te bring, gevolg deur die werklike bou van die huis. • Opleiding & implementering (fase 4) behels eerstens die opleiding van die betrokke partye, gefokus op die vaardighede wat benodig word om die nuwe proses te implementer. Vervolgens word die proses implementeer onder die waaksame oog van die projekspan, naamlik om in die huis in te trek. • Kontinue verbetering (fase 5) behels die kontinue verbetering van die proses wat sal verseker dat inkrementele verbetering behaal word, wat lei tot dramatiese verbetering opgebou oor tyd.

The primary investment objective of investors is to create their wealth which is reflected in the change of stock market price and dividend yield they receive over the investment period. Thus, investors need financial tools to assess and forecast company performance before making investment decisions. Traditionally, such accounting measures as Earnings Per Share (EPS), Return On Assets (ROA), Return On Equity (ROE) and Return On Sales (ROS) are basic tools for investors in Thailand to evaluate companies¡¦ performance in the stock market. Value based approaches such as Economic Value Added (EVA) and Market Value Added (MVA) are not widely known among investors yet. Therefore, this study aims to examine the explanatory power of various accounting measures (EPS, ROA, ROE and ROS ) and value based measures ( EVA and MVA ) on the stock returns. This study focuses on 190 sample companies which are representative of all listed companies in the years from 2006-2010 in terms of the spread of EPS and industry diversification. The empirical results indicate that accounting measures are more associated with stock returns than MVA and EVA respectively. Among accounting measures, ROA provides highest explanatory power on stock return although the analysis is done separately by sector. In contrast, the results for EVA appear in some sectors and are not consistent with the past research done in other stock markets including Thailand. Thus, the analysis is extended to examine the company characteristics that have relationship between EVA and stock return. The findings indicate that EVA tends to be associated with stock return in companies that have low book to market ratio. In terms of portfolio returns, typical investing styles, such as value and growth strategies still outperform the return from MVA and EVA strategies.

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Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The age old principle of earnings exceeding the cost of capital as a sound basis of wealth creation has been re-packaged and to a large extent, prominently revived, by the Stern Stewart Consultancy of New York in the form of EVA (economic value added). The most well know application of EVA for the past 10 years and subsequent success has been with the global company, Coca Cola. However, the widely debated capital asset pricing model - with no conclusion in site - is used as the basic principle in calculating EVA and therein lies one of its many weaknesses. All aspects of measurement is the foundation on which Industrial Engineering is based. This dissertation set out to evaluate this financial measurement and / or measure in terms of; a) an ability to replace any existing financial ratios b) an ability to measure wealth creation c) an ability to influence or improve on manufacturing systems such as JIT (Just-In- Time) or TOC (Theory of Constraints). d) an ability to focus on the productive use of capital and lastly e) an ability to point towards failure of a business when realising a low or negative EVA On a comparison with the traditional financial measurement techniques and ratios the EVA concept shows too strong a correlation to render it "unique" or able to replace EPS (earnings per share) as the single most important indicator in the financial markets. There is also the interesting phenomenon that industrial sectors vary significantly from country to country in their ability to earn over and above their cost of capital and that being the case in EVA terms, the question is raised whether those countries with negative EVA industrial sectors, should consider moving out of those businesses. The EVA calculations consist of reducing a company's annual earnings with its total weighted average cost of capital and a positive result is stated as a sign of "wealth creation" whereas a negative result points to the destruction of wealth. As will be seen in this dissertation, the EVA measure is healthy as to focussing on the "hurdle" effect of the cost of capital but that the world consists of many organisations with low or negative EVA that have been successfully doing business and producing profits for many years. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die eeu oue beginsel dat inkomste die koste van kapitaal moet oorskry vir 'n grondige basis om rykdom te skep, is herverpak en tot In groot mate, uitstekend vernuwe deur Stern Steward Consultancy van New York in die vorm van ETW (ekonomiese toegevoedgde waarde [EVA)). Die mees bekende toepassing van ETW die afgelope 10 jaar asook die gevolglike sukses daarvan is op die internasionale maatskappy, Coca Cola. As gevolg van die feit dat die onvoltooide debat rondom die kapitale bates prysmodel as beginsel gebruik word in die berekening van ETW, is die waarde van die ETW maatstaf dienooreenkomstig verswak. Die aspek van maatstawwe of meting is een van die hoekstene van Bedryfsingenieurswese. Hierdie tesis het dan dit ten doel gestelom hierdie ETW maatstaf te evalueer in terme van; a) 'n vermoë om enige bestaande finansiële verhouding te vervang b) veral die vermoë om die skep van rykdom aan te dui c) 'n vermoë om 'n invloed te hê, of selfs verbeterings aan te bring aan moderne vervaardiging stelsels soos .HT (Knapbetyds) of TOC (sinkrone vervaardiging) d) 'n vermoë om die produktiewe gebruik van kapitaal te meet en e) 'n vermoë om aan te dui of 'n onderneming gaan faal as gevolg van 'n lae of negatiewe ETW waarde. In vergelyking met die tradisionele finansiële maatstawwe en verhoudings, wys die ETW konsep 'n te sterk ooreenkoms met bogenoemde om dit as uniek te beskryf of om VPA (verdienste per aandeel [EPS)) as die belangrikste aanwyser van die finansiële markte te vervang. Daar is ook die interessante verskynsel dat industriële sektore beduidend verskil, van land tot land, in hulle vermoë om hoër as die koste van kapitaal te verdien en indien dit die geval is met ETW, moet die vraag gevra word of hierdie lande wat negatiewe ETW industriële sektors het, nie daaraan moet dink om daardie besighede te sluit nie. Die ETW berekenings bestaan uit die verlaging van 'n maatskapy se jaarlikse inkomste. Die totale gewig is die koste van kapitaal wat indien positief 'n teken is dat "rykdom" geskep word en indien negatief dat rykdom vernietig word. In hierdie tesis sal die volgende aan die ligkom: die ETW maatstaf is goed in die sin dat dit fokus op die "drumpel"-effek van koste van kapitaal; die wêreld bestaan egter uit baie organisasies wat In lae of negatiewe ETW het, maar wat baie jare suksesvol besigheid doen en wins lewer.